How did I find my Co-Founder?
In 2020, I decided to relaunch an IT company with a focus on a specialized field as opposed to continuing our 2014-founded freelance business. Even though since 2014 we have completed over 300 fixed-cost jobs and about 100,000 hours of freelancing, I was not happy. It's so simple to be a so-called "CEO" in the IT business these days—all you need is a laptop and various accounts on freelance platforms, which you may even open under family names 😂.
But, I've always wanted to start an IT company rather than a freelancing agency. To get knowledge and explore more from other like-minded entrepreneurs across various sectors, I joined BNI Global Surat Region.
There I met Dhaval Vansadia at a chapter meeting a few weeks later. He had a technical background, came from the textile industry, and had expertise in D2C brand consulting.
He is very enthusiastic about networking and enjoys building new connections. We met at our office and after an hour-long discussion, he hired us for a project, and we created an ERP system for his business. that's how he became our first client out of a freelancing portal.
After a year of collaboration, he made the difficult decision to leave his company, which he had invested both money and heart in for eight years. Despite this, we remained close friends and nurtured our relationship.
He spoke to me over the phone one day, "Jatin, what are you doing? This Friday, if you have time, let's get together at your workplace. I miss having coffee from you."
Well, then, why not?
We had coffee together on Friday and during a conversation, he asked "Jatin, Why do most IT companies in Surat fail to become multimillion-dollar companies?"
After an hour-long conversation, I asked him, "If you think you are ready again, let's build Sarvadhi a multimillion-dollar company that would run for years and years, with or without us!"
And he responded, "YES!"
That's how I met my co-founder Dhaval, who serves as Director of Sales and has been in charge of sales since January 2024.
It proved that huge dreams, trust, and a cooperative mindset of mutual growth can all lead to the creation of a great company.
Dhaval Vansadia, welcome to the team. I'm looking forward to working with you after working for you.
If someone asks me if BNI has been helpful, my response is: Indeed, it's worth exploring if you're willing to be flexible and know how to make the most of your network—both for business and for making new friends in different fields.
In 2020, I decided to relaunch an IT company with a focus on a specialized field as opposed to continuing our 2014-founded freelance business. Even though since 2014 we have completed over 300 fixed-cost jobs and about 100,000 hours of freelancing, I was not happy. It's so simple to be a so-called "CEO" in the IT business these days—all you need is a laptop and various accounts on freelance platforms, which you may even open under family names 😂.
But, I've always wanted to start an IT company rather than a freelancing agency. To get knowledge and explore more from other like-minded entrepreneurs across various sectors, I joined BNI Global Surat Region.
There I met Dhaval Vansadia at a chapter meeting a few weeks later. He had a technical background, came from the textile industry, and had expertise in D2C brand consulting.
He is very enthusiastic about networking and enjoys building new connections. We met at our office and after an hour-long discussion, he hired us for a project, and we created an ERP system for his business. that's how he became our first client out of a freelancing portal.
After a year of collaboration, he made the difficult decision to leave his company, which he had invested both money and heart in for eight years. Despite this, we remained close friends and nurtured our relationship.
He spoke to me over the phone one day, "Jatin, what are you doing? This Friday, if you have time, let's get together at your workplace. I miss having coffee from you."
Well, then, why not?
We had coffee together on Friday and during a conversation, he asked "Jatin, Why do most IT companies in Surat fail to become multimillion-dollar companies?"
After an hour-long conversation, I asked him, "If you think you are ready again, let's build Sarvadhi a multimillion-dollar company that would run for years and years, with or without us!"
And he responded, "YES!"
That's how I met my co-founder Dhaval, who serves as Director of Sales and has been in charge of sales since January 2024.
It proved that huge dreams, trust, and a cooperative mindset of mutual growth can all lead to the creation of a great company.
Dhaval Vansadia, welcome to the team. I'm looking forward to working with you after working for you.
If someone asks me if BNI has been helpful, my response is: Indeed, it's worth exploring if you're willing to be flexible and know how to make the most of your network—both for business and for making new friends in different fields.
The eChai Effect - In Their Words
"eChai isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset . eChai has been one of the most impactful communities in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a turning point . In a world where building something can often feel isolating, eChai gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve found mentors, collaborators, and friends here — people who genuinely want to see you succeed. It’s a space where ideas are challenged, actions are celebrated, and founders grow not just in scale, but in clarity and confidence. From late-night ideas to early-morning pitches, this community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I build, think, and dream. I’ll always be grateful for the way eChai creates spaces where founders don’t just grow businesses — they grow together."
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures
“You don’t plan to build a company via eChai. You just keep showing up … and one day, you realize you did.” I’ve known Jatin since 2012, when I was still deciding what kind of second innings I wanted to play as an entrepreneur. Over the years, through events, chai breaks, intros, and seemingly small conversations, eChai helped shape not just Upsquare but also refined the lens through which we see collaboration. At Upsquare, we’ve hired talent, met partners, discovered co-investors, and built lifelong friendships. One of our joint ventures exists today only because a casual eChai memory sparked a deeper trust. Now, as we build House of Starts — our venture builder — eChai continues to fuel our mission: co-creating a shared future. eChai isn’t just a startup network. It’s a trust network. And for business builders like me, that makes all the difference."
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
"I have evolved from role of Community Builder to Startup Consultant to Startup Ecosystem Enabler to Angel Investor and now launching a Venture Studio and eChai has been a catalyst in my overall journey as Startup Evangelist since 13 years."
Mehul Shah
Co-Founder at Counselvise & Ivy Growth
eChai Partner Brands
eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.
